Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-03-02

Mr.. Williams. State Secretary, delivered a
address tracing the methods of working, com
mencing, as he termed 1t, down at the Inter
! national Association Committee, and the
| rising through the State, the district and th
local organization to the committees. and the
the crowning capstone, the individual an
earnest working young man. In cannectlo
with this matter, he discussed the merits {
district organizations of which there are thre
In Virginia with headquarters as follows :
First, at staunton second. Lynchburg
third. Richmond. Adjourned.
Night SeSsion-This session of the Convention
was held in the Episcopal Church, which
before the hour of business arrived, was file
with an attentive audience. Seats In front c
the chancel were occupied by members Of tn
Convention. In the devotional exercise
prayer was offered by Rev. A. R. Cooke, {
Waynesboro. The President announced tn
topic-"Association Work in Colleges-Report
from Coileges"-and, introducipG- Rev. r.
McBryde. D. D., of Lexington. requested hin
to take charge of that feature. DR.. McBryd
expressed the pleasure 1t was to him to tax
part in the proceedings, but would not do
in the manner the programme announced. H
commenced by making reference to the origil
of the Young Mems Christian Association
which was, at Princeton College, forty year
ago with DIR. Dodge as a leader in the group G
men who first laid its plans. His reference
to religion In colleges carried him back to tn
past, for 1t was active and fruitful before tn
reformation; and then coming again to hi
first reference at Princeton, he traced its cours
through State and irrational organization
and on to foreign lands in those particulars IL
which college organizations were the agent
of its progress.
The statistics referred to by DR.. McBryd
presented large volume of information IL
college work, and, in speaking of the efficieuc.
of the College Associations. he said they &C
complished for the student what the churche
could not because the Association could reaci
him and influence him at that period of hi
life when the church could not always do so.-
The College Associations were the churches t.
the student. DIR. McBryde remarked in thi
connection that when speaking some tim
since as he did then of College Associations
he had been misquoted as giving greater eff
cheney to Associations than the churches fo
the student-that he did not do, except in tn,
way stated-neither churches nor professor
could get at student in the way in which
brother student could
Sketching the work being accomplished
through the college organizations, he referred
incidentally to troubles the country was moi
free from, and found in Protestant unity the
groundwork OF safety. The colleges send
ing forth young men-educated, trained, an6
Christian men-who will be pillars OF strength
to the country as well to the churches. There
were ], 200 young men at the colleges in Vir
einia, and corresponding proportion in the
United States. and all. more or less, under the
influences of College Young Mems Christian
Associations. Reports were then made as fol.
lows -
Emory and Henry, Hampden Sidney, Ran.
dolph Macon, Roanoke. Virginia Military In
stitute, Washington and Lee University, and
the University of Virginia. Pantops' Academy
sent a Communication with its report ex.
planning that a revival of religion as the work
of the Association at that institution prevented
the personal presence of delegates.
These reports developed wonderful proper
ton of christian work outside of the Associa-
lions as we'll as in them. For example, through
the one at the University of Virginia five Sun
day schools are carried on, two of them seven
miles from the University. The aggregate
number of scholars is 157. A full corps OF
teachers is detailed for each, and these young
men walk to and from the schools and never
fail to be on time. Several reports embraced
Sunday-school work, but the University re-
port was much commented on
General F. b. Smith of the Virginia Military
Institute was In the audience. 1t is known
that since the establishment of the Institute
nearly fifty years since. he has been its super
intendent, and that he has from the first held
the close relation of g. religious Instructor to
the cadets. who in that long time, have re-
ce1ved that benefit well as academic and
military education from his teaching. The
fact stated above and more were clothed In
beautiful language by Mr.. F. T. Glasgow, Presi.
dent OF the Lexington Association. when he
announced The presence of Gen. Smith, and
that the audience. he knew, would deem 1t 6
great pleasure to hear from him. Gen, Smith
respon ded iu brief address. He said he war
t iken by surprise. He spoke in illustration
religious duty and its rewards. and the effect O.
college-work as he had expert enced 1T from the
Lime he entered the Institution where he was
educated. He contrasted the religious services
as they were then and as they are now. He
witnessed them when an hour on Sunday
morning was all the religious services for the
week, and sketched the progress which found
/ the Colleges of to-day the active workers O
the Young Mems Christian Association with its
regular daily services. The audience was deep.
ly impressed by his utterances and listened to
him with profound attention.
These proceedings had encroached upon the
hour allotted to other business, but with a uni.
ted concurrence it was deemed best under the
glow of thought and the solemnity which per
vaded the assemblage to close the exercises
which was done with singing, and afterwards
prayer by Row. Mr.. Abrahams of GreenvilIe
Third Day.
Morning session.-Mr. Woods, the President
having been called home, the Chair was occu-
pied this morning and to the close of the ses-
sion by Mr.. Elyson, First Vice President.
The first topic taken up was "Evangelistic
meetings for young men--how arranged and
how conducted" Mr.. E. T. Dadmun, of Nor
folk. was in charge OF this subject, and read an
essay which received many expressions OF APP
probation. 1t commanded SO much approval
tnat several members requested the Speaker to
return to the stand that they might have the
benefit OF his own comments on his own plans
This document will be published for general
circulation
MIR. j. ID. Crump, of Richmond, Chairman OF
the State Executive Committee, read the an
1ual report of that Committee. Thetreasurer's
report was also read. On hand at the close OF
he present fiscal year Sl5lSt. Received the
'urrent year 1891 IS. Disbursement 1921. IS.
Balance on hand S73I0 Liabilities Slil7l.-
resources, npaid subscri ptions 1891 Balance
as above s73.l0, making $685.. 10.
Some causes of failure in our work, was the
next topic. Mr.. Harding of The International
Committee of Washington city, discussed this
subject, and pointed out the remedies. Gen
eral Secretary for each Association who is
trained and understands his work is iudispensa.
Die to progress and prosperity.
The State Secretary, Mr.. II o. Williams, sub
mitted his report. He travelled over 600 miles,
and bad made % visits to Associations The
largest percentage ofincrease Ia the wo: X was at
Luray and Alexandria. The report referred to
each Association visited.
The Committee to onsider the Executive re
ports presented their report concurring in the
recommendation made, part of which is to
raise $1,000 for the current year. and to con-
inue the services of Mr.. Williams as State
secretary at a salary of 81 AGO. Tho following
we're recommended as the State Executive
Committee for the ensuing year: ]. Z. Crump
Joseph Bryan. Chas. K. Willis. Chas. Lorraine
81. M. Clarke, A. H. Christian, Jr, James
CAskie. Of Richmond; J. P. Pettyjohn. j. Cor.
Ion PayDe q A Iicklider T,vpobhpro. q